After Thailand signed a controversial rare earths Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US, a network of civil society organizations has demanded that the MOU be repealed, raising concerns that it would violate Thailand’s mineral and mining laws and have a destructive impact on the environment.

<p>An anti-mining, LGBT and community-based human rights defender has been summoned by the police after joining the Network of People Who Own Mineral Resources in demanding a lock down of mining operations, and to prevent the situation from being exploited to give mining concessions.</p>

<p>The Network of People Who Own Mineral Resources issued a statement today (28 April) calling for the authorities to equally impose the Emergecy Decree by halting all mining operation and mine licensing process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Network of People Who Own Mineral Resources issued a statement on Monday (30 March), raising concerns about the restriction to people&#39;s rights and freedom under the Emergency Decree, which limits freedom of assembly, reduce the people&#39;s participation, and close off complaint mechanism, resulting in the&nbsp;inability to exercise their rights according to the constitution and related bills to oppose the mineral projects.</p>